Residents consulted over new foot and cycle bridge for town

People living in St Neots are being given a say on what their new £4million northern foot and cycle bridge will look like.

Cable-stayed bridge

Consultations on three designs proposed for the new link, to the north of the town bridge, have been started this week by Cambridgeshire County Council.

The bridge will provide a connection from Regatta Meadow to Priory Lane making a direct link from the Crosshall Road area to the Priory Centre, Waitrose and the town centre.

Town mayor, Councillor Barry Chapman said: “I think there are three super choices being put forward and I hope as many people as possible take part in the consultation.”

He said the bridge would help reduce the amount of vehicles in the town centre which had the worst traffic pollution in the county and would encourage safer cycling to schools.

Suspension bridge

“We have got a big population divided by the river and we have got to join them up,” Cllr Chapman said.

The bridge was approved by the county council last December and is part of the masterplan for St Neots being developed in a partnership between Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Huntingdonshire District Council and St Neots Town Council.

It is being funded by the combined authority and developer contributions.

The three options are an arch bridge, a cable-stayed bridge and a suspension bridge, each of which cost around £4million.

Arch bridge

Councillor Ian Bates, chairman of the county’s economy and environment committee, said: “This is a chance for locals to have their say on which option they best feel suits the landscape of St Neots.

“The options have been designed, keeping in mind the town’s surroundings, to ensure people’s journeys across the bridge by foot and bike are enjoyable.”

Cllr Bates added: “The new bridge will improve connectivity, offer alternative transport options to get across St Neots and encourage more walking and cycling - with the aim to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion and improve public health.”

There will be exhibitions at the Priory Centre on July 12 and July 19, the first from 5pm-8pm and the second from 1pm-4pm. There will also be a session from 12-3pm at the dragon boat festival on August 4.

Hard copies will be available at the town library, GP surgeries and at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/stneotsbridge.